Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Three in Tennessee

The past three months of life in Tennessee have been good to me. 

From the start of the epic road trip across eight states, I've had a hundred new, exciting, frightening and humbling experiences. A terrifying leap was taken into the unknown that included quitting my steady job, leaving my family behind and donating many of my belongings to Goodwill. A risk, which may have appeared to others as a train off its tracks, that I was willing to take to follow my heart. A risk that had no certainty in a successful outcome, and quite honestly still doesn't. 

Without this terrifying yet perfect-for-me life moment, I wouldn't know what was possible.

With a long distance love, everything you do and every time you see each other after weeks can seem like the most magical experience possible. The texts as you're still descending in an aircraft, the holy-sh*t-i-can-feel-your-presence goosebumps, the first sighting, the first touch, the first passionate kiss, the insatiable desire for one another.

My fear was that this could possibly disappear if I were to plant my roots in Tennessee.

Who wouldn't be afraid of losing a touch of this magic while establishing a routine? Waking up together, working together, eating lunch together, walking to coffee together, grocery shopping together, sweating together, falling asleep together. Just to do it all over again the next day? Snore?

To my surprise and far-exceeding my expectations, it's not a snore at all. It's amazing! The past three months have given me every bit of validation that this choice was the right one to make. While everything may not be picture perfect, I've seen the importance of teamwork, communication, respect, honesty, laughter, silliness and adventure.

Adventure comes in many forms for us. A new restaurant, a new TV show, a different haircut.

Just Friday at lunch we were discussing our evening plans of gym, grocery needs and planned exit from the office. While this is my ideal Friday agenda, I went out on a limb and suggested a quick road trip to Nashville for the night.

For the night and right after work without already packing? To spend all that money on just a place to rest our heads and order late night post-bar calzones? He initially hesitated at the thought, but within a minute there was a huge grin on his face and the glimmer of Nashville's lights in his eyes. 

A spontaneous weekend trip to spend some frivolous cash is why we have an adventure budget (also funded by things like our ice cream tax, losers of Uno games and under the table sports betting).

We drove, we sang, we danced, we snuggled, we ate, we laughed, we drank, we planned, we goofed. We shared a triumphant ending to the night slow-dancing to a country cover of "I Want it That Way". We even squeezed in a trip to Trader Joe's that I wasn't expecting until our Oregon vacation coming up in 8 sleeps.

I'm a big fan of this new life and look forward to what the next three months have in store, no matter how they look.

12 comments

Amy's Fashion Blog said...

So happy to hear that you are happy

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P!nky said...

I love that you are happy. Love is the best.

Kristen @ See You In A Porridge said...

i totally feel you! before i moved here, before we broke up, i remember sitting down and asking myself if i really loved him or if long distance was making it more magical. then after we broke up and got back together, i asked myself again. who would think it could get better, more magical, more amazing and awesome than before? isn't that neat? happy for you chook.

Sarah :: Plucky in Love said...

Glad you guys made the trip! You two are the cutest. ♥ I also enjoyed your sneaky sleeping selfies. Definitely made for each other!

Nadine said...

I remember when Chris and I were long distance and I suppose I had that fear that the feeling would disappear too but if it only gets better...then the risk is worth the jump to try and see! So glad you are enjoying your time here!!! And a road trip to Nashville? Sounds perfect!!!

MacKensie said...

Y'all are adorable. I wanna go to Nashville. So happy that you're happy. <3

Brittany said...

Awww love that you're happy! Sometimes the scariest decisions are the best decisions!
I wont lie... when I read you blog title I might have thought three and in three people as in a pregnancy announcement haha I guess I know where my head is at :P

Amanda - Voyage of the MeeMee said...

"We drove, we sang, we danced, we snuggled, we ate, we laughed, we drank, we planned, we goofed." Loving how happy and in love you are! :)

Laura Darling said...

This is awesome. Sounds like you are having a BLAST! :) Enjoy the rest of the fall!

Anonymous said...

This makes me giddy! I know how you grappled with this choice and I am so happy to see how wonderfully right it has been the last three months.

Helene in Between said...

this is AWESOME! so so excited for you and your life journey :)

Kay R. said...

I am insanely happy for you! So happy!